Neener Neener!

In a marketing blunder of epic proportions, the nice folks at Sill-Terhar Motors invited Mary & me to test drive a couple of "exotic" cars this morning. On tap was a Maserati QuattroPorte and....wait for it.... a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder!

Exactly why Sill-Terhar thought we might be good prospects for such an event is buried in a different, long gone and sadly departed real estate market. No matter, we're just extremely thankful they haven't been paying attention.

We showed up at the Embassy Suites in Loveland at 9 AM this morning to be greeted by the always amiable Jack Terhar and a stable of various Maseratis, Aston Martins and Lamborghinis. We decided to warm up with the Maserati. And I was amazed that they spent a minute showing us the controls, handed us the keys and sent us on our way - no adult supervision!

The Maserati is a sweet ride. Beautiful interior, nice leather, excellent cockpit layout, very comfortable and a very sensible Realtor car since it has four doors :) And it's very, very fast. We headed out into the countryside and I had it up to 130 in nothing flat, and it rode like a dream, with apparently lots in reserve. And the "sport" setting instantly turned it into a serious performance car. And when Mary had her turn, she had me white-knuckled with a couple of moves that are probably only legal in Italy.

I wouldn't call it bargain at $137k, but I sure wouldn't mind owning one.

And then it was time for the main event, and again, no adults in sight. The Lamborghini is a 556 horsepower V-10, lists for $230k and comes from a different planet. The cockpit is snug, and the layout screams "jet fighter", with paddle shifters and cool instrumentation. And when you step on the gas, the growly, snarly sound and the big hand pushing you back in the seat have you focused very quickly. Because all of a sudden, you're going really fast. No, seriously, I mean really fast. Way back in time, when such a thing was possible and affordable, I used to race cars, but I've never driven anything as pure animal as this car. To say it was a thrill is a total understatement. It's two hours later and we're both still full of adrenaline.

On the way back to the office, in my now pathetic ride, Mary and I were relating the experience to real estate. The Lamborghini costs more than most of the condos and townhomes in the area, and a lot of homes as well. We certainly wouldn't qualify as serious buyers, and we didn't have a pre-approval letter. Yet they let us drive those cars anyhow, and didn't even accompany us on our "showing".

But, from Sill-Terhar's standpoint, it probably wasn't a total bust - if a miracle happens, say, a winning lotto ticket or, less likely, a return of the early 2000's real estate market, that Lamborghini is going to be at the top of my list. And they do sell a lot of other, regular cars (I don't think anyone has ever referred to a Volvo as exotic), and I'm going to be grateful to them for the opportunity for a long while.

I was about 22 the last time I was near one of those things and it was on the showroom floor..... I didn't get to drive it. (Probably a really good thing.....) I didn't get much more than a sneer from the uppity sales guy. Of course he was an idiot. He had no way of knowing whether I or my folks could have afforded it. He missed the basic sales tenet of "Never Assume".....

People first then business! Ran Right Realty Riverside, Ca - Riverside, CA

on LIFE and LOVE plus Real Estate too!

In Europe, they have a speedway where anything goes...I mean speeds 2-3 times what we do here. While these cars come with lots of "folklore", you really cannot enjoy them here as designed without getting a ticket for doing so. Even on the open stretches where no cop can hide, where the urge to OPEN her up registers, there be a sign that says...speed monitored by aircraft...Lastly, I drive a high performance vehicle and I can only open her up when getting on the freeway...good post and thank you

Dick, way to turn this joyride into a lesson in real estate!!! I got the chance to drive a really fast sports car, a Ferrarri once, many years ago when this guy was trying to hook up with my girlfriend and offered this...she didn't take him up on it, but I DID! Since it was in the city, I never got out of 3rd gear, but this guy said, "you were born to drive a Ferrari"--loved that! (And all I did was drive the car, he wasn't interested in me). You had to let out the clutch almost completely before changing gears if I recall. I love SPEED in a high-performance car, but those days are done out here in the country when deer jump out on a regular basis, or there are llamas, cows or a horse in the middle of the road (oh, and a big black steer once, too!)

Fabulous photos and I loved that Mary gave you the white knuckle treatment.

Wow... what an amazing experience! You are right, you never know what opportunities will arise in the future. The dealership is very smart figuring you probably don't have an existing relationship with an Exotic dealer... therefore, when you or your wealthy clients ever are in need to spend $150+K on a new sports car you know exactly who to turn to.

Wow, what a great story. Wait till I show it to my husband! They just opened up a new Maserati/Ferrari/Lamborghini dealership on Long Island. I'll have to make sure they have all my contact information. Hey, you never know!

Dick, This is a familiar site to me, cars, car shows, exotic rides.....toys of my Sicilian Huband and 18 year old son! They even hung in my garage a "Ferrari Only" parking sign. As for speed they are going to a BOSS ATTACK Track event, where they can drive.

Would you believe a freind of ours won a Mazaratti at a raffle done at the Manhasset Americana? THEY DID!

Dick for some reason I missed this post, I must admit without adult supervision they are lucky at the dealership that you were honorable and returned instead of kept driving Endre p.s.: I just heard on the news that Guy Fierri's car thief was found guilty it was a car that looked like the one you are sitting in

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